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Melville ShavelsonAmerican film director, producer, screenwriter and writer
Date of Birth: 01.04.1917
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Early Life and Career
- Screenwriting and Directing
- Presidency of the Writers Guild of America
- Producer and Director
- Personal Life and Legacy
Early Life and Career
Melville Shavelson was born on April 1, 1917, in New York City. He began his career in Hollywood in 1938 as a writer for comedian Bob Hope. Shavelson penned scripts for Hope's films, including "The Princess and the Pirate" (1944), "Where There's Life" (1947), "The Great Lover" (1949), and "Sorrowful Jones" (1949).
Screenwriting and Directing
Shavelson's screenwriting credits include "Handsome James," "Five Pennies," "It Started in Naples," "On the Double," and "The Pigeon That Took Rome." He also wrote and directed "The Seven Little Foys" (1955) and "The Houseboat" (1958), which earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay.
Presidency of the Writers Guild of America
Shavelson served as President of the Writers Guild of America, Hollywood and Southern California, on multiple occasions: 1969-1971, 1979-1981, and 1985-1987.
Producer and Director
In addition to his screenwriting, Shavelson was also a producer and director. Notable films directed by him include "A New Kind of Love" (1963), "Cast a Giant Shadow" (1966), and "Yours, Mine and Ours" (1968).
Personal Life and Legacy
Shavelson was married twice. His first wife, Lucille, died in 2000. He married Ruth Florea in 2001 and remained married to her until his death in 2007. He had two children: Lynn Joyner and Richard Shavelson.
Cornell University established the Shavelson Film Awards in his honor to recognize emerging filmmakers. Shavelson's contributions to Hollywood as a screenwriter, producer, and director have left a lasting legacy in the entertainment industry.
